LMT Magazine

Business Strategies, Dental Laboratory News, Education and More

Many years ago I attended a dental industry seminar on personnel nightmares, given by John Ness, Founder of PTC and the Productivity Training system. He described four types of potential troublemakers in organizations but I was particularly struck by the type he called “Harry.”

“Harry’s,” he said, are often delightful, can-do personalities, do impeccable work and seem...

Since its debut 25 years ago, LMT’s LAB DAY West has grown from a regional show with 800 attendees to the largest dental laboratory trade show on the West Coast and a truly international event. This year’s show in Garden Grove, CA, drew 1,706 laboratory owners, managers and technicians, hailing from 27 states and 10 other countries.

Whether you have two technicians or 20, there is perhaps no greater challenge in the laboratory than managing your staff. From morale issues to interpersonal conflicts, Lab Owner and Manager respondents to LMT’s Personnel Survey share their strategies for achieving pleasant and productive work environments.

Rafael Choi, CDT, describes his technique for using IPS e.max Press Multi to eliminate the need for layering methods and produce esthetic, lifelike anterior crowns in a predictable and efficient manner.

It started with a 13-hour trip—including a stop in Munich—but it was worth it to realize my long-time dream of attending the IDS show in Cologne.

Walking into the show, I felt like a little boy entering a carnival for the first time: there were eye-catching booths with glamorous lighting and “side shows” such as magicians. And yes, plenty of free beer at the various exhibit...

As part of our ongoing State of the Industry 2015 coverage, LMT Editors visited the world’s largest dental show to bring you the scoop on the latest product and process innovations worldwide—including digital dentures, laser milling and more—and what else is coming down the pike for the U.S. market.

Awhile back we had an online debate, via LMTmag.com, about what’s good, better, best when it comes to man-made or machine-engineered restorations. By now, it seems the answer is clear: both. In the same way “art versus science” was the community debate of the 1980s and 90s, I think most technicians would agree that, ideally, it’s a blend.

“We make products to improve people’s lives and we’ve spent years mastering our craft. Digital is the loss of a rewarding lifestyle we had been looking forward to,” said Jim Glidewell, President and CEO of Glidewell Laboratories, during his State of Dental Technology presentation at the 89th Annual Cal-Lab Meeting held at the Westin Michigan Avenue. “This isn’t where...

LMT welcomed several new exhibitors to LAB DAY including: Scheftner Dental Alloys is a German manufacturer of non-precious metal alloys. Their focus is on conventional casting alloys, milling blanks and CoCr-powder for SLM/SLS technologies. The company sells direct to laboratories and production centers and is also currently looking for U.S. dealers. For more information, visit www.scheftner24.de....

Welcome to LMTmag.com, the social and information hub of the dental lab industry. Connect with industry peers and vendors, ask questions, sign up for events, review products, read LMT articles and industry news and more!

From independent surveys and research to industry-specific management, marketing and business strategies, LMT gives dental laboratory owners and managers the information that's hard to find anywhere else. Incorporating the real-world experiences of people who work in the same market and face the same challenges, LMT's articles are carefully focused...See more on the practical, business side of operating a dental laboratory.

While zirconia is becoming an increasingly popular restorative choice, metal-ceramic solutions are still widely used and, in many cases, preferred because of the esthetics. Renato Carretti offers a look...

LMT Communications delivers the business strategies, information, dental laboratory news and education that dental laboratory decision-makers need to succeed. Through LMT Magazine and our LAB DAY shows, LMT works to advance excellence in dental technology, enhance the products, services and communication of dental technicians, and give dental laboratory owners and managers the tools they need to flourish. Learn More »